Dr. Jim Green
Former Chief Scientist, NASA (retired)
About
Dr. James "Jim" L. Green is an American space physicist and retired NASA leader renowned for his 42-year career at the agency, culminating as Chief Scientist (2018–2022) and the longest-serving Director of the Planetary Science Division (2006–2018). A University of Iowa Ph.D. (1979) recipient, he pioneered NASA's early internet-like data networks, served as co-investigator on missions like IMAGE, and oversaw landmark explorations including New Horizons' Pluto flyby, Juno to Jupiter, Curiosity and Perseverance on Mars, and evidence of ancient water flows on the Red Planet. Post-retirement in 2022, Green has advised on health innovations drawing from space science, advocated for planetary protection, and continued public outreach through podcasts and talks, earning NASA's Distinguished Service Medal and having asteroid 25913 Jamesgreen named in his honor.